Pacers Reach NBA Finals as Knicks’ Run Ends in Indianapolis
Indiana ends 24-year wait for NBA Finals return with Game 6 win over New York
It’s been a long time coming for Indiana.
On Saturday night, the Pacers punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since the year 2000, riding the strength of Pascal Siakam’s brilliance and a well-balanced team effort to close out the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The 125-108 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ignited celebrations throughout Indianapolis—and brought back memories of the Reggie Miller era, the last time the franchise made it this far.
With the win, Indiana takes the series 4-2 and advances to face the surging Oklahoma City Thunder in what promises to be a fast-paced, high-energy NBA Finals. Game 1 tips off Thursday.
Siakam leads the way—again
Pascal Siakam might be new to the Pacers, but he’s certainly not new to these moments. The 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors showed exactly why Indiana traded for him back in January, putting up 31 points, grabbing multiple key rebounds, and swatting away three shots in a commanding performance that earned him Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors.
Siakam averaged over 26 points across the series and scored 30 or more in three of Indiana’s four wins. After a quiet showing in Game 5, he bounced back with the sort of poise and fire that only a battle-tested veteran can provide.
“After a bad game five, we wanted to bounce back,” Siakam said postgame. “I have 100% belief in my teammates. Whenever we’re down, we find a way—and we did that tonight.”
His journey back to the NBA Finals carries a sense of personal redemption. “That year in 2019, it was my third year,” he recalled. “I was this young kid. I thought it was going to be easy to get back. I appreciate it even more now because I know how hard it is to get here.”
Haliburton’s moment arrives
If Siakam was the series MVP, Tyrese Haliburton was its heartbeat.
The 24-year-old point guard, who has taken huge leaps this season both as a player and as a leader, finished Game 6 with 21 points, 13 assists, and three steals. From orchestrating the offense to hitting timely shots, Haliburton played with confidence and flair—exactly what this young Pacers core needed.
“It’s a special feeling to do it with this group,” Haliburton said, beaming after the win. “We got to the same spot last year and we fell short. We worked our tails off to get back here.”
Haliburton’s growth has mirrored Indiana’s trajectory. A team that was seen as promising but unfinished just a year ago has now become a legitimate championship contender—largely because its young star has grown into a full-blown floor general.
Depth delivers once again
It wasn’t just the stars doing the heavy lifting on Saturday. Rick Carlisle’s bench came up big when it mattered most.
Obi Toppin chipped in 18 points in 21 minutes, providing a spark in transition and nailing a couple of corner threes that stretched New York’s defense. Aaron Nesmith and TJ McConnell also made key plays on both ends, continuing the Pacers’ theme of strength in numbers.
“This group has been about trust and belief all year,” Carlisle said. “Pascal’s been a rock of consistency for us, but we’ve got contributions across the board. That’s what it takes in the playoffs.”
Carlisle, himself a championship-winning coach with Dallas in 2011, knows better than most that it’s not just about star power in June—it’s about chemistry, depth, and execution.
Knicks fade late as turnovers take toll
The Knicks, for their part, gave everything they had—but Game 6 slipped away from them in the third quarter, just as they seemed poised to mount a fightback.
New York actually started strong, trailing by just one point after a tight first quarter (25-24). But a 9-0 Pacers run to open the third frame broke the game open, and from there, the visitors never quite recovered.
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points, showing flashes of the two-way brilliance that made him a key midseason addition. Karl-Anthony Towns added 22, but turnovers—18 in total—proved costly. Too often, the Pacers converted sloppy New York possessions into fast-break points.
Injuries had already taken a toll on Tom Thibodeau’s squad throughout the postseason, with key players missing time, including Jalen Brunson earlier in the series. But on this night, they simply couldn’t keep pace with a hungry Indiana team that had fresher legs and more offensive firepower.
Looking ahead: A fresh Finals matchup
With the Pacers and Thunder set to clash, this year’s NBA Finals will feature two teams that haven’t tasted championship glory in decades—if ever.
Indiana last made the Finals in 2000, when they lost to a dominant Lakers squad led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Oklahoma City’s only appearance came in 2012, when a young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden lost to LeBron James’ Miami Heat.
Now, both teams return with new stars, new systems, and fanbases ready for history. The Thunder bring youth, athleticism, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-caliber brilliance. The Pacers counter with playoff-tested veterans like Siakam, a rising star in Haliburton, and the kind of chemistry that has made them one of the most entertaining teams in the league.
For neutral fans, it’s a refreshing Finals pairing. No super-teams. No dynasties. Just two hungry, well-coached squads looking to seize the moment.
As the lights shine brighter and the stakes climb higher, one thing is clear: the Indiana Pacers are back, and they’re not just happy to be here. They’re ready to win it all.
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